Qatar Goodwood Festival Kicks Off with Top-Quality Racing

Qatar Goodwood Festival Kicks Off

Qatar Goodwood Festival is a world-famous five-day festival and one of the highlights of the flat racing season. Held on the world's most beautiful racecourse, the Festival features class racing, with several black type races bearing the name of Qatar.

The Qatar-sponsored annual Festival kicked off on Tuesday, 27 July and will continue up to the finale on Saturday, 31 July. Day 1 featured eight races on the beautiful racecourse which was built in 1802 and the most important of them was the Gr1 Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup Stakes. Qatari presence was represented by the Embassy of the State of Qatar in the UK. Acting Deputy Ambassador of Qatar to the UK Jassim Moftah Al Moftah,was present and presented the trophies to the winners.

Excitement was the word to describe the races of Day 1, especially as things retuned back to normal with large numbers of racegoers present at Sussex Downs in spite of the heavy rains, which had its impact as several horses were declared non-runners in several races. STRADIVARIUS, who was bidding for a historical straight victory in the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup Stakes, was declared non-runner. (QNA)